010 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Readings
Cycle B The Feast of the Baptism of the LordOld Testament: Isaiah 41:1-7 or Isaiah 55-1-11
Psalm: Psalm 29 or Isaiah 12:2-6
New Testament: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
Homily Theme
New Life through Water, Spirit and the Blood
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water and the blood, and the three are of one accord. If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
(1.John 5:1-9. An alternate second reading for this Sunday)
This Sunday, the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord. He had no need to be baptized for He was sinless but Jesus enters the water of the Jordon to be baptized by John the Baptist to show us of our need to be baptized. He is like us in all things but sin. Water is the sign of the presence of life. Astrologers search outer space for signs of water to determine whether there is life on other planets. Without water there is no life. Jesus chooses water as a sign for us at the beginning of our new life in Him. Water also has the power to cleanse and we are cleansed of our sins in the water of baptism.
Jesus, who shares with us a human nature, also received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the Father proclaims Jesus as His beloved Son. We also receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and are declared sons and daughters of this same heavenly Father at the moment of our baptism. This same Holy Spirit confirms us in our faith and gives us strength to live the Gospel.
A body without blood is dead and a Christian without the blood of Christ to strengthen him or her is spiritually dead. It is through the life giving blood of Jesus that we are saved and reborn in the water of our baptism. We continue to grow in Him when we receive His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. It is a sacred blood transfusion that will ensure our eternal life with Him, each time we receive Him in Holy Communion.
This Sunday, as we begin a new year, let us make a resolution to live closer to Jesus who suffered and died for us so that we might have this gift of eternal life from our heavenly Father.
New Life through Water, Spirit and the Blood